On July 18, 2017, New Hampshire became the last of the New England states to decriminalize recreational marijuana.
The new law, HB 640, had bipartisan sponsorship and bipartisan support. It will take effect in 60 days. However, the law seems to be confusing, and though it is a baby step toward it, the law does not legalize the possession of marijuana. Federal laws against marijuana are still significant barriers toward opening up marijuana markets.
The Supreme Court of the United States has released its October oral argument calendar. Bloomberg SCOTUS reporter Greg Stohr tweeted the cases that will be heard, which includes the Wisconsin gerrymandering case, Gill v. Whitford:
Senate Republicans threw a curveball into the complicated Obamacare repeal vote. The GOP introduced yet another amendment to their bill to replace the Affordable Care Act.
The new version, posted on a Senate website, removes the so-called Cruz amendment. Authored by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the amendment would have allowed insurers to sell much-less-generous, and hence less expensive, individual health plans.
If only we had a handful of Centrist Independents in the U.S. Senate right now to be the catalyst for a more constructive debate over real health care reform. Health care does not have to be a hyper-partisan issue; sadly the Republicans and Democrats have turned it into one.
The House veterans affairs committee unanimously approved changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill Wednesday. It is one of two bills introduced in the last month to better educational benefits to future veterans.
It was an all nighter for GOP Senate leaders as they search for 50 votes to open a debate on ObamaCare repeal-and-replace legislation.
And a change in tactics.
The meeting between lawmakers came after a scolding at the White House from President Trump, who demanded they come up with a solution to the repeal and replace ObamaCare.
The move reverses course from their plans to move to a vote on a straight repeal of ObamaCare.
Congress is debating whether to repeal the Affordable Care Act or improve it, but there is a third option that has gained serious momentum. Americans are more supportive now of a single-payer type health care system than ever before.
Wouldn’t it be nice if politicians engaged with their constituents in order to get their vote and their donations? One-on-one? Knocking on doors in neighborhoods? Speaking with them individually? Learning about the issues and concerns that they have, rather than listening to lobbyists and special interests?
Wouldn't it also be nice if we could return as much of the legislative and voting process to one person casting a single vote? If we could get the corrupting influence of money out of politics in general?